As many of you would probably already know, I am Italian, live and blog from Italy. This may sounds nice and intriguing to some of you, but this also means I’m an international blogger, which has its long list of pros as well as a lot of cons. Being an international blogger it’s a whole different story and there are times when I wish I was British, not kidding… but here is a list of pros and cons on being an international blogger!

PROS

. You can write in two languages, even though this is not my case! I decided to start writing only in English because I wanted to keep this blog always updated and it was difficult to write 4/5 posts a week when I had to manage two different languages in every post (which means double the work I do right now). Knowing two languages can be a pro and if you can manage to write in two languages your blog will for sure be open at more opportunities and maybe followers (not really sure about that though), but it’s such a hard work!
. You have a completely different story to tell: something I love about reading lifestyle blogs is to get to know different cultures and habits and being an international blogger can make you more interesting as you might eat different food or have different habits than every other British blogger which is nice to share. And you know deep down people it’s very curious…
. You can snap different places and probably people would be very interested in that as well because they can see places they don’t usually get to see only by browsing your blog. However it’s not as interesting as discovering new places where to eat or go and explore that are way closer to you…
. You have access to different products & brands – this can be a pro because it’s nice to blog about your local products, however we have not access to a lot of interesting brands that everyone talks about and that’s such a shame! Blessing the existence of online shops that ship internationally!

CONS

. You may feel excluded. Sometimes being an international blogger sucks: a lot of times I can’t take part to chats or events due to the different timezone or location. Also I don’t know the language as well as a native and not even close which can penalize me in the world of beautifully written blogs.
. PRs might reject you and this is sometimes that happens to me all the time. They write me emails about working with them and reviewing their products, and as soon as I reveal I’m Italian they simply don’t ever get back to me or, in the best of the cases, they apologize but they don’t work with bloggers that aren’t based in the UK and it doesn’t matter if the majority of my readers and visitors are British. This sucks and I always feel excluded and disappointed about these behaviors but it’s our reality as international bloggers and since the majority of the times things go this way, you somehow get used to it.
. This can make you feel like your blog lacks in something but it’s not true and I just recently learnt thinking this way. As soon as you get rejected by PRs or get criticize because you are not that good in English grammar, you’ll feel like you lack in something and you won’t ever see your blog growing as many others. But this is not true and if you’re an international blogger, you can still have a successful blog and I like to think I’m growing with it everyday as well, because I get to practice my English and learn new things about me, writing, photography and a lot of other stuff like any other blogger do. And if PRs reject me, they simply don’t know what they are missing…
. You won’t be able to meet other bloggers, go to events or have access to all the most popular brands that everyone blogs about. If you live in a different location, you will for sure be penalized somehow. I had contacts with Italian PRs that keep also international well known brands when I was still writing both in English and Italian and that way I was able to take part of some blogger events (and I was very lucky because most of them were in Milan and I live there), but as soon as I quitted my own language, I’ve lost all of those contacts and of course I can’t take part of events based in Britain being that I live in Italy. Also I have not access to a lot of brands I would love to try but that are not sold here in Italy.

Even though being an international blogger can be difficult sometimes, if you’re an international blogger you will get used to it at some point. There are a lot of pros and cons and sometimes I find myself wishing I was British, but I love blogging and this is something I will keep doing even though I am aware a lot of other bloggers have a lot easier life! I don’t like to get discouraged because of being international, I love my blog and what I do and what matters is that I’m proud of my contents and I always find blogging a way to grow a lot of my skills. And if you’re an international blogger and are having a tough time to spread out your voice, you shouldn’t ever get discouraged because your blog and work is worth like any other! You shouldn’t feel constricted to write only in your own native language but you can really spread your voice internationally and learn a lot from doing it!

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This is a really interesting post, and I had no idea about some of those difficulties for international bloggers. Your English is brilliant though- far better than my Italian which I can hardly speak at all anymore! I only discovered your blog recently, but I like that it’s not just another British blog- it’s nice to find out about somewhere new.
Jennifer xhttp://www.ginevrella.blogspot.co.uk

I’m an international blogger, too, so I know exactly how you feel. I’m Austrian so I could as well blog in German but I chose English to reach a wider audience. I’m really happy that most PR agencies did not back off after realizing I’m not British – after all it’s given on the first page of my blog. They should never have messaged me if they didn’t want to work with a non-Brit. The thing I miss the most are blogger events. I’d love to go to Blogger’s Fashion Week. Ah, well, what can you do. 🙂
Elina | missblueeyes.com

I decided to blog in English for the same reason and I did tried blogging in both languages for a few months but it was so time consuming and pretty annoying! Lucky you you haven’t had any issue with PRs about not being British! x

Such a great post Giada! I totally agree with you, especially with the cons! Some brands didn’t even respond… It’s totally fine when some people don’t give you chances, because one day some others will do, and everything is going to be ok! 🙂

Same here! The biggest disadvantage for me is that you have limited audience because you try to fit in internationally and as you said, you can’t go to events, meet people, and I have a general feeling of being excluded. I’m from Greece and sometimes I feel like I can’t have good enough content for international readers but I don’t want to write in Greek so greek audience is limited too. Then I see other international bloggers being succesfull and I know that it doesn’t really matter where I’m from, I just have to improve my content..!

I’m starting (reeeealy slow) to blog in English. I’m in Italy too, and not far from Milan.
There are a lot of bloggers around Italy, they simply write in Italian, but they’re pretty nice people too.
If you feel like needing someone to talk about how awful is to be blogging in a coutry where the most wonderful brands aren’t sold, here I am! 😀

This is such an interesting post, I must admit I had never thought of any of these difficulties and, whilst it must be a total pain, it makes you and your blog unique. I personally love reading about new places and new cultures, and as I have never visited Italy – your blog is my go-to for any information for prospective trips 😉 Your English is ever so good though so just keep going girl! 🙂
Phoebe – http://www.phoebetea.co.uk
xx

I can only imagine the difficulties you face especially with PR sometimes but I love that we can read and experience things from another viewpoint and culture it’s exciting and you are definitely accepted 🙂 xxxx

What I love about international bloggers like us, is that we bring something different and we’re brave enough to share our thoughts in another language. Also we get the opportunity, like you said, to share with our followers our hometown through our eyes.
It’s not easy but once you succeed it’s a great accomplishment because all the odds are against you!

this may sound ridiculous but I feel pretty similar about being from the US, it doesn’t really cause any PR problems – not that I get many PR emails anyway – but there are ZERO events! like where are all the other US based bloggers who aren’t full time bloggers
Allison from http://www.mercuteify.com

Ah this sounds so strange, I thought you US bloggers had so many events to go to! x

Andrea Thompson

I love reading non-British blogs and I think your written English is very very good, I would not expect it to be perfect (nor want it to be, the slight wrong phrase etc. add to the quirkiness). Uk based bloggers can miss out on a lot of events to, especially if you don’t live in London (see my recent post on Blogger Frustrations). I love your blog and don’t think it needs anything more xxxx

Thank you for this comment Andrea! I can see how it can be difficult for a lot of UK bloggers who doesn’t live around London to go to events, but you at least won’t be refused by PRs just for living in another country! x

Leah Symonne

Loved this post, can totally relate. It really does suck not being able to meet other bloggers but it’s also really awesome getting to bring something new to the table!

I know the feelings. Even though I’m British but I live in Belgium, I feel the whole international blogger thing. I have tried to find a few Belgian bloggers but there isn’t too much over lap in interests.

We’ll be alright 🙂 Us international bloggers can stick together!

SaraPags

Loved this post cause it exactly reflects my thoughts and fears about my blog, since I’m an international one too! I would also add that I feel like I don’t have English friends enough to spread my website. But I don’t give up cause I’m sure one day, an international blogger will have the opportunity to travel around the world thanks to her blog, which is different from the other British/American ones just because it’s international.

MissLilly

Interesting post! Some friends and bloggers end up writing the posts in 2 languages in order to still be part of their local country as well as having the international language. Same as you I’ve decided to write only in English and I guess I end up not being here or there. But I guess I don’t mind 🙂 Wish you a great year ahead

I loved this post and I relate to it so much is some points of view. I am Portuguese with an English blog. A thing that I have that it is different from your situation is that I now live in the UK. I moved to the UK for one year and an half now so If I was to be a successful blogger and get contacted for PR, that wouldn’t be a problem.

I do practice english everyday as I work in England as well but grammar will always be a “problem”. With my blog, I do struggle with my writting, with the grammar. Anyways, that doesn’t stop me. I love my blog even if I don’t get many comments, followers or views. I love it because it is mine and I am proud of it.

You should be very proud of your blog. It is very hard to express yourself in a language that is not yours, like we do. And as you said, if they reject you, it is their loss.

This post that you did made me love your blog even more. Keep up with the good work and one day they will give you the recognition that you deserve. xx

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As many of you would probably already know, I am Italian, live and blog from Italy. This may sounds nice and intriguing to some of you, but this also means I’m an international blogger, which has its long list of pros as well as a lot of cons. Being an international blogger it’s a whole…